Crusaders cleared of eye-gouging charges

April 09, 2012|Reuters

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The Canterbury Crusaders have been cleared off all charges of eye-gouging by the Super Rugby ruling body Sanzar following allegations from the Northern Bulls after their match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Bulls spokesman Ian Schwartz issued a statement on the franchise's website (www.thebulls.co.za) on Monday saying "no evidence of eye-gouging was found by Sanzar's judiciary system".

Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and lock Flip van der Merwe had claimed they were fouled by the Crusaders.

Schwartz said the Bulls would not apologise despite comments by Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder after the game that he expected an apology if the allegations were not proven.

"For them to suggest we must now apologise, just because there is no video evidence available, would mean we have lied," he said.

"It is ridiculous to suggest that every time there is a citing and there is not enough evidence, the other team should apologise.

"The rules are clear and we applied them 100 percent correctly. We had the right to raise the matter with the referee and we accept the fact that there was no video evidence."